Measuring tape



NOV. 30, W. F, DART A MEASURING TAPE Filed sept. 18, 1952 Y Kei/fllig 5 f v INVENToR.

`on the second described wall member.

United States Patent O MEASURING TAPE William F. Dart, Mason, Mich., lassignor to Dart Manul facturing Company, Mason, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 18, 1952, Serial No. 310,236

which may be easily read when used for either measure- A ment.

Second, to provide a measuring tape having these advantages, which may be very economically produced and assembled, and one in which the more delicate parts, such as pointers, are effectively housed and protected.

Third, to provide a spring wind measuring tape having an improved housing formed of two parts, both of which may be formed as die castings.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is dened and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a measuring tape embodying my invention with the tape somewhat extended.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 2--2 of Fig. l, the attaching screw for the housing members being shown in full, and the extended portion of the tape partially broken away.

Fig. 3` is a fragmentary front elevational view with the tape in section, parts of the housing being broken away and in section,

Fig. 4 is anenlarged fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 4 4 in Fig. 3 with the tape in fully retracted position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmetary sectional view on a line corresponding to line 5--5 of Fig. l.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated the reel housing designated generally by the numeral 1 comprises a bottom 2, side walls 3 and 4, rear wall 5 and front wall 6. 'Ihe front and rear walls merge between the side walls `into a top wall, unnumbered. These parts are in the form of two die cast wall members, one member comprising the side wall 3, the bottom, `and the rear and front walls cast integrally, the other member comprising the side wall 4 having a spindle 7 integral therewith. The spindle 7 is provided with a threaded longitudinal bore 8 receiving the `screw 9 which is disposed through an opening 10 provided therefor in the side wall 3. The rst described wall member is provided with an integral internal boss 11 having a recess `12 in the end thereof receiving a stud 13 These parts coact with the screw in securing the members together, so that the single screw serves the purpose and enables very rapid and economical assembly of the parts.

The spring wind drum 14 is provided with an inwardly projecting ilange 15 at one end rotatable on the spindle. The outer end of the convolutely wound spring 16 is connected at 17 to the drum. The spindle has a slot 18 therein in which the inner end 19 of the spring is anchored. It will be understood that the drum is under winding tension even when the tape 20 is in fully retracted position as shown in Fig. 4. The tape 20 is of resilient metal stock desrably of steel and is of curved cross section, its convexedly curved upper side being provided with scale indicia 21 on both edges thereof. The tape is provided with a combined nger piece and stop 2,695,454 Patented Nov. 30, 1954 22 which coacts with the stop 43 on the bottom 2 when the tape is in fully retracted position.

The front wall of the. casing 6 is provided with a rearwardly inclined lower portion 23, the lower edge 33 of which is spaced from the bottom 2 to receive the tape between them. The bottom and the side walls extend forwardly of the rearwardly inclined portion of wall 23 providing a forwardly opening recess of substantial depth, the depth being such as to expose a substantial portion of the scale indicia within the recess.

The pointers 24 project inwardly from the side wall of the recess, being desirably formed integral therewith when the housing members are formed of die castings. The pointers 24 are in vertically spaced relation to the stop 43 on the bottom members, and with their tips in vertical alignment with the face of the stop 23. The pointers are clearly visible from the upper side of the tape and are visible relative to a substantial portion of the scale indicia at the inner side of the pointer. This greatly facilitates the reading of measurements and it enables the quick determinations of fractions of an inch. The pointers coact with the forward end of the bottom in providing a guide for the scale and serve as holddown members. The tape being curved brings the scale indicia into close relationship with the pointers, further facilitating reading.

The brake 25 projects through an opening 26 in the side Wall 4 and is biased by the spring 27 engaged with a stud 28 on the side wall 3 so that it engages the edge of the tape, clamping it against the wall 4. This brake mechanism is that of my patent issued lune 3, 1952, #2,599,320. The rear end of the housing constitutes an abutment for taking inside measurements, and in taking inside measurements a predetermined distance between the rear end of the housing and the pointers should be added to the measurement indicated by the pointers. This, in the commercial embodiment is 2".

The structures embodying my invention may be very economically produced and at the same time they are attractive in appearance and strong and durable. The side walls 4 and 3 are of corresponding outline shape and have symmetrically curved edges resulting in very attractive structure which may be economically produced and assembled. The pointers 24 are well protected so that they may be formed as parts of the die castings.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other adaptations or embodiments which I contemplate, as I believe this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is:

1. A spring wind reel comprising a housing having` a bottom, and side and front walls, the front wall having a rearwardly inclined lower portion disposed between the side walls with its lower end spaced rearwardly of the front edge of the bottom and coacting therewith and with the side walls to provide a forwardly opening recess at the front of the housing, the front edge of the bottom constituting a tape stop and being spaced rearwardly relative to the front edges of theportions of `the side walls constituting the side walls of the recess,

a tape operatively associated .with said reel to be retracted into the housing between said rearwardly inclined frontwall portion and said'bottom, said tape having a downwardly projecting combined stop and linger piece coacting with said tape stop when the tape is fully retracted, said tape being of curved cross section and disposed with its concavely curved side upward and having aligned scale graduations at each edge thereof, pointers on said side walls projecting into said recess in vertical alignment with said tape stop, the pointers constituting a hold-down means for the tape and coacting with the front end of the bottom to provide a tape guide.

2. A spring wind reel comprising a housing having a bottom, and side and front walls, the front Wall having a rearwardly inclined lower portion disposed between the side walls with its lower end spaced rearwardly of the front edge of the bottom and coacting therewith and With the side walls to provide a forwardly opening recess at the front of the housing, the front edge of the bottom constituting a tape stop and being spaced rearwardly relative to the front edges of the portions of the side walls constitutingthe side walls of the recess, a tape operatively associated `with said reel to be retracted into the housing between said rearwardly inclined front wall portion and said bottom, said tape having a downwardly projecting combined stop and nger piece coacting with said tape stop when the tape is fully retracted, pointers on said side walls projecting into said recess in vertical alignment with said taper stop.

3. A spring wind reel vcomprising a housing having a bottom, and side and front Walls, the front wall having a rearwardly inclined lower portion disposed between the side walls with its lowerend spaced rearwardly of the front edge of the bottom and coacting therewith and with the side walls to providea forwardly opening recess at the front of the housing, the front edge of the bottom constituting a tape stop and being spaced rearwardly relative to the front edges of the portions of the side walls constituting the side walls of the recess, a tape operatively associated with said reel to be retracted into the housing between said rearwardly inclined front Wall portion and said bottom, said tape having a downwardly projecting combined stop and finger piece coacting with said tape stop when the tape is fully retracted, said tape being of curved cross section and disposed with its concavely curved side upward and having valigned scale graduations at each edge thereof, pointers on said side wails projecting into said recess in vertical alignment with said tape stop, said pointers being spaced a predetermined distance from the rear end of the housing so that in making inside measurements the length ofthe housing may be added to the extension of the tape as indicated by the pointers, the pointers constituting a hold down means for the tape and coacting with the front end of the bottom to provide a tape guide.

4. A spring wind reel 4comprising a housing having a bottom, and side and front walls, the front wall having a rearwardly inclined lower portion disposed between the side walls with its lower end spaced rearwardly of the front edge of the bottom and coacting therewith and with the side walls tov provide a forwardly opening recess at the front of the housing, a tape operatively associated withsaid reel to be retracted into the housing, said tape being of curved cross section and disposed with its concavely curved side upwardand having aligned scale graduat'ions at each edgethereof, and pointers on said side walls projecting into said recess, said pointers being spaced a predetermined distance from the rear end of the housing so that in making inside measurements the length of the housing may be added to the eX- tension of the tape as indicated by the pointers, said pointers being so spaced abovethe bottom of said recess as to constitute a hold down means for the tape.

5. A spring Wind reel comprising a housing having a bottom, and side and a front wall associated to provide a forwardly Opening recess at the front of the housing, the recess including a bottom andy sidewalls, a tape operatively associated with the reel to be retracted into or extended from the housing between the side walls of said recess and having scale indicia oneach edge thereof, and` pointers extending inwardly from the side walls of the recess above and coacting with lthe tape as it extends across the lbottom of said recess and housed within the recess, the recess being of such .depth that a substantial portion of the scale indicia at the inner sidtle of the pointer is visible to4 facilitate reading of the sca e.

6. A spring wind-reel comprising a housing having a bottom, and side and front walls associated to provide a forwardly opening recess at the front of thehousing, the recess including a bottom and side walls, a tape operatively associated with the reel to be retracted into or extended from the housing between the side walls of said recess, and a pointer extending inwardly from one side wall of the recess above and coacting with the tape as it extends across the bottom of said recess and housed within the recess, the recess being of such depth that a substantial portion of the tape at the inner side of the pointer is visible to facilitate reading of the tape.

7. In a measuring tape, a reel housing comprising two die cast housing members, one member including a side wall, and bottom, top, front and rear walls integral therewith, the other members comprising a side wall and a reel spindle integral therewith and having an axial threaded bore at its outer end, the side walls of the housing members being of the same outline shape, a screw disposed through said rst side wall and threaded into said bore of said spindle for securing said housing members together, av drum having an inwardly projecting flange at one end rotatably supported on said spindle, a convolutely Wound spring secured at one end to said drum, said spindle having a .slot in which the other end of said spring is anchored, and a resilient tape connected to said drum to be wound thereon and provided with scale indicia, the front wall having an .inwardly inclined lower portion disposed between the side walls and coacting therewith and with the frontportion of the bottom to provide a forwardly facing recess, said side walls having integral aligned pointers on their inner sides disposed within ysaid recess to coact with the indicia of the tape and spaced above the front portion of the bottom 'to provide a tape guide between-the-bottomand the pointers.

8. ln a measuring tape, a reel housing comprising two die cast housing members, one member including a side wall, and bottom, top, front and rear walls integral therewith, the other members comprising a sidewall and a reel spindle integraltherewith and having an axial threaded bore at its outer end, the side walls of the housing members beingof the same outline shape, a screw disposed through `said rst side Wall and threaded into said bore of said spindle forsecuring said housing members together, a spring wind `drum on said spindle, and aresilient tape connected to 1said. drum to be wound thereon and provided with scale indicia, the front wall having an inwardly inclined lower portion disposedfbetween the side walls and coacting therewith and with the front portion'of the bottom to provide a forwardly facing recess, said side walls having integral aligned pointers on their inner sides disposed within :said recess to coact with the indicia of thetape andspaced above the front portion of the bottom to providea tapey guide between the bottom and the pointers.-

References Citedin the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,131,695 Stowell -c Sept. 27, 1938 2,207,277 Volz July 9, 1.940 2,240,753 Bouchard et al. Ma-y 6, 1941 2,510,939 Carlson rs -..g- Iune6, 1950 FOREIGN -PATENTS Number Country Date n 253,421 Great Britain June 17, 1926 173,446 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1935 174,735 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1935 

